By Jan Vicente B. Pekas
Rarely will locals attempt to blend in with the ocean crowd started by visitors during special occasions. Most of them are contented enough to spend their free time at home, and call it a staycation. The panagbenga allure, however, is seductive enough to drive locals in swimming among the sea-like crowd in Session Road. Fighting for what little space physics can allow in a crowded space, making do with the mixture of unique scents that come from both foods and people around.
Panagbenga is a great beacon in luring a diverse group of people to accompany the colorful flowers decorated around the city. It surely will be more than impossible for the roads to handle both locals and visitors out in full force. Traffic added with road constructions is a sure way to arrive late at our destinations, though not that reliable as an excuse.
The city blossoms at a time where it is not dominated by a tyrant virus. The sight of Baguio right now, is a lively one compared to a few years ago. The lifeless streets are trampled upon with life from all walks in the nation. The flowers can be examined by eyes and nose upfront, nature’s beauty is properly appreciated. Just as the people can appreciate the city where their family grew up, instead of being surrounded by walls all the time.
In this month filled with many events and celebrations, we can all expect the trash count to keep up, if not completely overtake the number of people coming to the city. The city can be proud to have an image of a clean landscape, but that picture is severely being challenged right now. Garbage threatens to strip the city of clean air and stunning surroundings. The bright colors of Baguio cannot be one made with bright plastics, nor should the pine smell be pushed out by rotting scents brought upon by decaying products.
The instinct of a local is a strong foundation in maintaining the city’s clean image. The natural instinct to clean up is an infectious one. The effects of it brings out the true beauty of Baguio. The burden of maintaining the cleanliness of the city is one carried by all. Props to the people who spend their day cleaning the streets, but each person can always contribute in building a better Baguio by picking up our own trash. Through collective effort, a population can build a Baguio that lives on to cater to the next generation. A city that maintains and improves the same air and qualities we all know and love.
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